Incident alleged to have taken place Saturday morning

FARMINGTON — A Farmington man was arrested Saturday and accused of armed robbery after allegedly pointing a BB gun at Walmart employees when he was approached about alleged shoplifting.

Bryan Chavez, 35, is charged with a second-degree felony count of armed robbery, a third-degree felony count of tampering with evidence and a misdemeanor count of resisting an officer, according to court records.

Officers for the Farmington Police Department were dispatched to the Walmart at 4600 E. Main St. around 10 a.m. Saturday on reports of an individual shoplifting, according to police spokeswoman Georgette Allen.

A manager and employee approached Chavez about the alleged shoplifting in the store when he pointed a BB gun shaped like a handgun at the employees and fled the scene, Allen aid. He exited the store through an entrance on the east side of the building.

Once outside, Chavez allegedly pulled out the BB gun and fired several rounds, according to Allen.

Chavez was later arrested near the TownePlace Suites by Marriott at 200 Sierra Vista Drive.

Cortez Way, the road connecting the Walmart parking lot to English Road, was closed for about two hours.

Farmington police recovered a BB gun that matched the description of the one Chavez allegedly used and two cell phones near the TownePlace Suites, Allen said.

Chavez made his first appearance in Farmington Magistrate Court on Monday morning. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, according to court records.

Chavez was incarcerated at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center this afternoon on a $3,000 bond.